An extension to the deadline to close the purchase of the former Adams Middle School was given and various personnel, bid and request items were approved during a meeting Tuesday night of the Trenton R-9 Board of Education.
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An extension to the deadline to close the purchase of the former Adams Middle School was given and various personnel, bid and request items were approved during a meeting Tuesday night of the Trenton R-9 Board of Education.
The board agreed to push back the closing date for purchase the former AMS building to this Friday. UTI, to which the board agreed to sell the building in June, had requested an extension to allow an out-of-town investor to see the property. The board had given UTI 60 days to execute closing on the property, which would have set the deadline at Aug. 7.
The vote on the request was 6-1, with Don Sager voting no. Sager had made a motion for the board to proceed with demolition of the building, noting members ?had waited long enough? to complete the transaction. The motion died for a lack of a second. It was noted, however, that should the closing not take place on Friday, UTI would have to forfeit its $5,100 down payment for the building and the district would take back possession of the building.
The board approved guidelines for the free and reduced lunch program, as required by federal law, and agreed to leave meal prices the same for the coming year. Lunch prices are $1.40 for middle school and high school students, $1.25 at the elementary school and $1.90 for adult lunches. All breakfast prices are $1. Reduced meal prices include 40 cents for lunch and 30 cents for breakfast. Dennis Gutshall, who is director of food service for the R-9 District, said parents are encouraged to apply for the free and reduced lunches for their children, whether or not they are utilized, because applications for the program provide additional state aid for the district. Applications are made available to students when they enroll for classes.
The board approved an Academic Improvement Plan at the Rissler Elementary School, designed to cut down on the number of students who are retained after the third grade because of testing at least one year below grade level in reading in math. Principal Kathy Nolke and instructor Ann Constant presented information on how the plan would work, with school officials identifying children who are having difficulties in these areas at an earlier age. A plan of action would be developed and, with involvement from the parents, instructors would work with the children to get them to grade level in those subjects.
The board approved changes in the student handbooks at the elementary, middle school and high school levels. Many of the changes had to do with attendance, clarification, clothing requirements, promotion and retention, student planners at the middle school and information release polices.
At Rissler, perfect attendance designation will now only be given to those students who miss no school during the quarter rather than the previous policy allowing students to miss some time and still be recognized. The high school and middle school will continue their policy of allowing students to miss two hours during the quarter to be recognized.
The high school added several policies to the book that were already in place but had not been in print form until this year. Copies of the policies are available at each school.
The board filled three coaching vacancies, including Jack Derry as middle school girls softball coach. Derry replaces Kim Witten, who was approved as freshman girls basketball coach. T.J. Peacher was assigned duties as middle school girls track coach.
Approved for part-time attendance for the first semester were high school seniors Charity Brown, Lindsey Lattimore, Kinnison McKay, Erin Peters and Caitlin Robinson. They all plan to attend North Central Missouri College. Early graduation was approved for Jennifer Cannon, Joni Elliott, Kellie Fries, Chandra Hendrix, Amanda Kinnison and Dorothy Talley. They will be allowed to participate in the graduation ceremonies this May.
In other business, the board:
? set non-resident tuition at $5,500, which is $200 more than last year.
? set the annual tax rate hearing for noon on Thursday, Aug. 29 at the district office. The district is proposing a tax levy of $3.71 on the $100 assessed valuation, which is the same as a year ago, despite the fact that the asssed valuation has increased nearly $6 million. The levy is anticipated to generate $2,228,693.
? adopted the policy relating to ?conflict of interest and personal financial disclosure.?
? approved the low bids from Menu Maker foods, Harkers and Lady Baltimore for various food items.
? was told enrollment at the Rissler Elementary School was at 445, which is lower than has been in the past. Enrollment for middle school and high school students will take place today, Thursday and Friday.
? received information concerning activities occurring for staff and board members prior to the first day of school on Aug. 21.
? was told the MSBA state fall conference would be held Oct. 24-27 at the Lake of the Ozarks while the MSBA Region 2 meeting will be held Sept. 4 at Brookfield.
? an executive session was held for personnel, student matters and legal matters. The board hired Miranda Boone of Trenton as a night custodian at the high school and hired Beth Gross of Trenton as a cook at the high school/middle school.